Causal relationship between OHSS and immune cells: A Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the causal relationship between immune cells and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. DESIGN: Obtaining data, collecting single nucleotide polymorphisms, detecting instrumental variables heterogeneity, assessing causality, and assessing bidirectional causality. SUBJECTS: A two sample Mendelian study to confirm the causal relationship between immune cells and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. EXPOSURE: Immune cell phenotype (including 22 million SNPs from GWAS on 3757 European individuals). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inverse variance weighting, one-sample analysis, MR-Egger, weighted median and weighted mode are used to assess the causal relationship between 731 immunophenotypes and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. The weighted median and Mendelian Randomization multi-effect residuals and Mendelian Randomization multi-effect residuals and outlier tests are used to assess bidirectional causality between this two. RESULTS: After False Discovery Rate correction, 9 immunophenotypes were found to be significantly associated with the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. B cell panel: IgD+ AC (OR, 0.90) 、CD19 on CD24+ CD27+ (OR, 0.86) 、BAFF-R on CD20- CD38 (OR, -1.22); Mature T cell group panel: EM DN (CD4 -CD8-) AC (OR, 1.46); Myeloid cell panel: Mo MDSC AC (OR, 1.13) 、CD45 on CD33br HLA-DR+ (OR, 0.87); Monocyte panel: HLA-DR on monocyte (OR, 0.86) 、CCR2 on CD14+ CD16+ monocyte (OR, 1.15) 、cDC panel: HLA-DR on myeloid DC (OR, 0.89). CONCLUSION: This study shows the potential link between OHSS and immune cells by genetic means, providing new ideas for future clinical and basic research.

Activation of limbal epithelial proliferation is partly controlled by the ACE2-LCN2 pathway.

In response to corneal injury, an activation of corneal epithelial stem cells and their direct progeny the early transit amplifying (eTA) cells to rapidly proliferate is critical for proper re-epithelialization. Thus, it is important to understand how such stem/eTA cell activation is regulated. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is predominantly expressed in the stem/eTA-enriched limbal epithelium but its role in the limbal epithelium was unclear. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) suggested that Ace2 involved the proliferation of the stem/eTA cells. Ace2 was reduced following corneal injury. Such reduction enhanced limbal epithelial proliferation and downregulated LCN2, a negative regulator of proliferation in a variety of tissues, via upregulating TGFA and consequently activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Inhibition of EGFR or overexpression of LCN2 reversed the increased proliferation in limbal epithelial cells lacking ACE2. Our findings demonstrate that after corneal injury, ACE2 is downregulated, which activates limbal epithelial cell proliferation via a TGFA/EGFR/LCN2 pathway.

Collective action within an environment of unknown unknowns: Experiences with the port of Mars Game.

There is limited research about how groups solve collective action problems in uncertain environments, especially if groups are confronted with unknown unknowns. We aim to develop a more comprehensive view of the characteristics that allow both groups and individuals to navigate such issues more effectively. In this article, we present the results of a new online experiment where individuals make decisions of whether to contribute to the group or pursue self-interest in an environment with high uncertainty, including unknown unknowns. The behavioral game, Port of Mars is framed as a first-generation habitat on Mars where participants have to make decisions on how much to invest in the shared infrastructure to maintain system health and how much to invest in personal goals. Participants can chat during the game, and take surveys before and after the game in order to measure personality attributes and observations from the game. Initial results suggest that a higher average social value orientation and more communication are the key factors that explain why some groups are more successful than others in surviving Port of Mars. Neither other attributes of players nor the group's communication content explain the observed differences between groups.

Progesterone boosts abiraterone-driven target and NK cell therapies against glioblastoma.

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma (GBM) poses a significant challenge in oncology, with median survival times barely extending beyond a year due to resistance to standard therapies like temozolomide (TMZ). This study introduces a novel therapeutic strategy combining progesterone (Prog) and abiraterone (Abi) aimed at enhancing GBM treatment efficacy by modulating the tumor microenvironment and augmenting NK cell-mediated immunity. METHODS: We employed in vitro and in vivo GBM models to assess the effects of Prog and Abi on cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and the immune microenvironment. Techniques included cell viability assays, Glo-caspase 3/7 apoptosis assays, RNA-seq and qPCR for gene expression, Seahorse analysis for mitochondrial function, HPLC-MS for metabolomics analysis, and immune analysis by flow cytometry to quantify NK cell infiltration. RESULTS: Prog significantly reduced the IC50 of Abi in TMZ-resistant GBM cell, suggesting the enhanced cytotoxicity. Treatment induced greater apoptosis than either agent alone, suppressed tumor growth, and prolonged survival in mouse models. Notably, there was an increase in CD3-/CD19-/CD56+/NK1.1+ NK cell infiltration in treated tumors, indicating a shift towards an anti-tumor immune microenvironment. The combination therapy also resulted in a reduction of MGMT expression and a suppression of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in GBM cells. CONCLUSION: The combination of Prog and Abi represents a promising therapeutic approach for GBM, showing potential in suppressing tumor growth, extending survival, and modulating the immune microenvironment. These findings warrant further exploration into the clinical applicability of this strategy to improve outcomes for GBM patients.

Transcriptomics and gut microbiome analysis of the edible herb Bidens pilosa as a functional feed additive to promote growth and metabolism in tilapia (Oreochromis spp.).

To reduce the use of antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture, an edible herb, Bidens pilosa, has been selected as a multifunctional feed additive. Although there has been considerable research into the effects of B. pilosa on poultry, the wider effects of B. pilosa, particularly on the growth and gut microbiota of fish, remain largely unexplored. We aimed to investigate the interactive effects between the host on growth and the gut microbiota using transcriptomics and the gut microbiota in B. pilosa-fed tilapia. In this study, we added 0.5% and 1% B. pilosa to the diet and observed that the growth performance of tilapia significantly increased over 8 weeks of feeding. Comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on RNA sequence profiles obtained from liver and muscle tissues. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that B. pilosa regulates several pathways and genes involved in amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, endocrine system, signal transduction, and metabolism of other amino acids. The expression of the selected growth-associated genes was validated by qRT-PCR. The qRT-PCR results indicated that B. pilosa may enhance growth performance by activating the expression of the liver igf1 and muscle igf1rb genes and inhibiting the expression of the muscle negative regulator mstnb. Both the enhancement of liver endocrine IGF1/IGF1Rb signaling and the suppression of muscle autocrine/paracrine MSTN signaling induced the expression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), myod1, myog and mrf4 in muscle to promote muscle growth in tilapia. The predicted function of the gut microbiota showed several significantly different pathways that overlapped with the KEGG enrichment results of differentially expressed genes in the liver transcriptomes. This finding suggested that the gut microbiota may influence liver metabolism through the gut-liver axis in B. pilosa-fed tilapia. In conclusion, dietary B. pilosa can regulate endocrine IGF1 signaling and autocrine/paracrine MSTN signaling to activate the expression of MRFs to promote muscle growth and alter the composition of gut bacteria, which can then affect liver amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, endocrine system, lipid metabolism, metabolism of other amino acids, and signal transduction in the host, ultimately enhancing growth performance. Our results suggest that B. pilosa has the potential to be a functional additive that can be used as an alternative to reduce antibiotic use as a growth promoter in aquaculture.

Axillary lymph node removal in de novo metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Several prospective studies have found that local surgical resection did not improve the survival of patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer (dnMBC). However, a significant portion of dnMBC patients still undergo local surgery, and the role of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in dnMBC patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ALND in patients with dnMBC. Methods: We included patients diagnosed with dnMBC between 2010 and 2020 using the data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. The Chi-square test, binomial logistic regression, propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate Cox proportional models were employed for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 6,838 patients were identified, with 5,562 (81.3%) in the ALND group and 1,276 (18.7%) in the non-ALND group. Being diagnosed in later years emerged as an independent predictive factor related to the receipt of ALND (P=0.003). Before PSM, the 5-year breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) was 51.1% and 38.2% in those with and without ALND, respectively (P<0.001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 45.9% and 32.3% in those with and without ALND, respectively (P<0.001). ALND was identified as an independent prognostic factor related to better BCSS (P<0.001) and OS (P<0.001) compared to the non-ALND group. Similar findings were observed after PSM. The outcomes were significantly better in the ALND group than in the non-ALND group in most subgroups. However, the number of removed lymph nodes did not show a significant association with BCSS (P=0.27) and OS (P=0.29). Conclusions: Our study suggests that ALND is associated with improved survival outcomes in dnMBC patients. These findings advocate for a re-evaluation of the role of surgical interventions in dnMBC, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment strategies that consider the potential benefits of ALND.

Theory of topological exciton insulators and condensates in flat Chern bands.

Excitons are the neutral quasiparticles that form when Coulomb interactions create bound states between electrons and holes. Due to their bosonic nature, excitons are expected to condense and exhibit superfluidity at sufficiently low temperatures. In interacting Chern insulators, excitons may inherit the nontrivial topology and quantum geometry from the underlying electron wavefunctions. We theoretically investigate the excitonic bound states and superfluidity in flat-band insulators pumped with light. We find that the exciton wavefunctions exhibit vortex structures in momentum space, with the total vorticity being equal to the difference of Chern numbers between the conduction and valence bands. Moreover, both the exciton binding energy and the exciton superfluid density are proportional to the Brillouin-zone average of the quantum metric and the Coulomb potential energy per unit cell. Spontaneous emission of circularly polarized light from radiative decay is a detectable signature of the exciton vorticity. We propose that the vorticity can also be experimentally measured via the nonlinear anomalous Hall effect, whereas the exciton superfluidity can be detected by voltage-drop quantization through a combination of quantum geometry and Aharonov-Casher effect. Topological excitons and their superfluid phase could be realized in flat bands of twisted Van der Waals heterostructures.

Study on co-amorphous emerging solubilization behavior after gelation during dissolution: The importance of complexation and anti-crystallization.

Co-amorphous (CM) is a promising technology for enhancing the aqueous solubility of insoluble drugs, but the gelation phenomenon has often occurred during the dissolution process and seriously threatened their solubility/dissolution performance. Therefore, it's quite important to design favorable CM systems to alleviate or even avoid the adverse effects of gelation phenomenon. In this study, CM systems of taxifolin (TAX) and oxymatrine (OMT) (TAX-OMT CMs) were constructed to improve the solubility and dissolution properties of TAX. Interestingly, TAX-OMT CMs gradually aggregated and obviously gelled during dissolution, but the solubility and dissolution of TAX in TAX-OMT CMs were significantly enhanced compared to crystalline TAX. Consequently, the underlying solubilization mechanisms of TAX-OMT CMs after gelation were systematically explored. For one thing, the complexation between the two components in TAX-OMT CMs was verified by phase solubility, fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. For another, the residual solids of TAX-OMT CMs after dissolution evaluation were thoroughly characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, which showed the anti-crystallization property of TAX-OMT CMs. Furthermore, molecular simulation demonstrated the intermolecular interactions of TAX-OMT CMs alone and TAX-OMT complexes in aqueous solution. Finally, pharmacokinetics study in rats suggested that the bioavailability of TAX in TAX-OMT CM (1:2) was approximately 5.5-fold higher than that of crystalline TAX after oral administration. Collectively, this study reveals the importance of complexation and anti-crystallization effects of CM systems on maintaining solubilization behavior after gelation, providing an effective strategy to improve the absorption performance of pharmaceutical CM systems.

Construction of Surface Ruoct─O─Cooct Units With Optimized Cooct Spin States for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction and Evolution.

The introduction of noble metal into spinel structure is an effective strategy to develop efficient oxygen evolution/reduction reaction (OER/ORR) catalysts. Herein, surface Cooct is substituted by Ruoct in Rux-Mn0.5Co2.5-xO4/NCNTs by ion-exchange, where presence of Ruoct─O─Cooct unit facilitates electron transfer. This strong electron coupling effect leads downward shift in d-band center and a narrowing of d-p bandgap. The increased charge density of Cooct bridged with Ruoct dioxygen optimizes adsorption of oxygen intermediates (*OH) and occupation of electrons in eg-orbital octahedral. The measured ORR/OER voltage difference is only 0.71 V. The peak power density of assembled zinc-air battery reaches 148.8 mW h cm-2, and energy density at 100 mA cm-2 reaches 813.6 mA h gZn -1, approaching a theoretical value of 820 mA h gZn -1. The catalyst demonstrates stable operation for over 500 h at 10 mA cm-2 and over 200 h at 50 mA cm-2. This work provides new insights to guide fabrication of advanced oxygen electrocatalysts.

Regulation of matrix reloading by tumor endothelial marker 1 protects against abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Tumor endothelial marker 1 (TEM1), an activated mesenchymal cell marker, is implicated in tissue remodeling and repair. Herein, we investigated the role and therapeutic implications of TEM1 in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a potentially life-threatening aortic disease characterized by vascular inflammation and matrix turnover. Characterization of human AAA revealed increased TEM1 expression derived mainly from medial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and adventitial fibroblasts. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated the association between TEM1-expressing VSMCs and fibroblasts and collagen gene expression. Consistently, collagen content and TEM1 expressed by VSMCs and fibroblasts were increased during CaCl2-induced AAA formation in mice. TEM1 silencing in VSMCs and fibroblasts inhibited transforming growth factor-ß1-induced phenotypic change, SMAD2 phosphorylation, and COL1A1 gene expression. Also, Tem1 deficiency reduced collagen synthesis and exacerbated CaCl2-induced AAA formation in mice without disturbing elastin destruction and inflammatory responses. In contrast, rTEM1 promoted phenotypic change and COL1A1 gene expression through SMAD2 phosphorylation in VSMCs and fibroblasts. Treatment with rTEM1 enhanced collagen synthesis, attenuated elastin fragmentation, and inhibited CaCl2-induced and angiotensin II-infused AAA formation. In summary, TEM1 in resident stromal cells regulates collagen synthesis to counteract aortic wall failure during AAA formation. Matrix integrity restored by rTEM1 treatment may hold therapeutic potential against AAA.

Singular dielectric nanolaser with atomic-scale field localization.

Compressing the optical field to the atomic scale opens up possibilities for directly observing individual molecules, offering innovative imaging and research tools for both physical and life sciences. However, the diffraction limit imposes a fundamental constraint on how much the optical field can be compressed, based on the achievable photon momentum1,2. In contrast to dielectric structures, plasmonics offer superior field confinement by coupling the light field with the oscillations of free electrons in metals3-6. Nevertheless, plasmonics suffer from inherent ohmic loss, leading to heat generation, increased power consumption and limitations on the coherence time of plasmonic devices7,8. Here we propose and demonstrate singular dielectric nanolasers showing a mode volume that breaks the optical diffraction limit. Derived from Maxwell's equations, we discover that the electric-field singularity sustained in a dielectric bowtie nanoantenna originates from divergence of momentum. The singular dielectric nanolaser is constructed by integrating a dielectric bowtie nanoantenna into the centre of a twisted lattice nanocavity. The synergistic integration surpasses the diffraction limit, enabling the singular dielectric nanolaser to achieve an ultrasmall mode volume of about 0.0005 λ3 (λ, free-space wavelength), along with an exceptionally small feature size at the 1-nanometre scale. To fabricate the required dielectric bowtie nanoantenna with a single-nanometre gap, we develop a two-step process involving etching and atomic deposition. Our research showcases the ability to achieve atomic-scale field localization in laser devices, paving the way for ultra-precise measurements, super-resolution imaging, ultra-efficient computing and communication, and the exploration of light-matter interactions within the realm of extreme optical field localization.

Tumor suppressor KEAP1 promotes HSPA9 degradation, controlling mitochondrial biogenesis in breast cancer.

The oxidative-stress-related protein Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) is a substrate articulator of E3 ubiquitin ligase, which plays an important role in the ubiquitination modification of proteins. However, the function of KEAP1 in breast cancer and its impact on the survival of patients with breast cancer remain unclear. Our study demonstrates that KEAP1, a positive prognostic factor, plays a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle transition in breast cancer. We investigate the underlying mechanism using human tumor tissues, high-throughput detection technology, and a mouse xenograft tumor model. KEAP1 serves as a key regulator of cellular metabolism, the reprogramming of which is one of the hallmarks of tumorigenesis. KEAP1 has a significant effect on mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation by regulating HSPA9 ubiquitination and degradation. These results suggest that KEAP1 could serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in the treatment of breast cancer.

Exploring neuron-specific steroid synthesis and DHEAS therapy in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss. Recent studies have suggested a potential role for steroid synthesis in AD pathology. This study investigated the co-localization of steroidogenic enzymes in neuronal cells, changes in enzyme expression in an AD mouse model, and steroid expressions in human AD samples. Additionally, we conducted a steroidomic metabolomics analysis and evaluated the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) treatment in an AD mouse model. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed significant co-localization of cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1 (CYP17A1) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) proteins with α-synuclein in presynaptic neurons, suggesting active steroid synthesis in these cells. Conversely, such co-localization was absent in astrocytes. In the AD mouse model, a marked decrease in the expression of steroidogenic enzymes (Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Star) was observed, especially in areas with amyloid beta plaque accumulation. Human AD and MS brain tissues showed similar reductions in StAR and CYP17A1 expressions. Steroidomic analysis indicated a downregulation of key steroids in the serum of AD patients. DHEAS treatment in AD mice resulted in improved cognitive function and reduced Aß accumulation. Our findings indicate a neuron-specific pathway for steroid synthesis, potentially playing a crucial role in AD pathology. The reduction in steroidogenic enzymes and key steroids in AD models and human samples suggests that impaired steroid synthesis is a feature of neurodegenerative diseases. The therapeutic potential of targeting steroid synthesis pathways, as indicated by the positive effects of DHEAS treatment, warrants further investigation.

The potential anti-arrhythmic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) were initially recommended as oral anti-diabetic drugs to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D), by inhibiting SGLT2 in proximal tubule and reduce renal reabsorption of sodium and glucose. While many clinical trials demonstrated the tremendous potential of SGLT2i for cardiovascular diseases. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline first emphasized that SGLT2i were the only drug class that can cover the entire management of heart failure (HF) from prevention to treatment. Subsequently, the antiarrhythmic properties of SGLT2i have also attracted attention. Although there are currently no prospective studies specifically on the anti-arrhythmic effects of SGLT2i. We provide clues from clinical and fundamental researches to identify its antiarrhythmic effects, reviewing the evidences and mechanism for the SGLT2i antiarrhythmic effects and establishing a novel paradigm involving intracellular sodium, metabolism and autophagy to investigate the potential mechanisms of SGLT2i in mitigating arrhythmias.

Study on the recovery of bladder function in patients with cervical cancer after operation by portable ultrasound combined.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative urination dysfunction is a common complication after surgery in patients with cervical cancer. Portable bladder ultrasound are commonly utilized in clinical practice for measuring residual urine volume. This study aimed to the effect of bladder function training combined with portable ultrasound monitoring on bladder function recovery in patients with cervical cancer after training. METHODS: A total of 40 postoperative patients with cervical cancer were randomly divided into a control group (A) and an experimental group (B) of 20 cases each. Group A was given routine postoperative care, while group B was given bladder function training. Urgent urine bladder volume were taken twice daily after removal of the urinary catheter and monitored for five consecutive days. The difference of urgent urine bladder volume and bladder filling rate were compared by t-test and chi-square test respectively. The 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate the quality of life of patients before and after intervention, and compared by Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative urgent urine volume between the two groups. After catheter removal, the bladder volume of patients in the B increased, while the bladder volume of patients in the A increased less and fluctuated greatly. The bladder filling rate in the A was significantly lower than that in the B (5/15 vs 17/18, p < 0.05). After intervention, the quality of life of the experimental group was better than that of the control group, including scores of general health, mental health, vitality, and physical role (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Postoperative cervical cancer patients trained to hold urine by portable ultrasound monitoring are able to recover bladder function.

Necroptosis enhances 'don't eat me' signal and induces macrophage extracellular traps to promote pancreatic cancer liver metastasis.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating cancer with dismal prognosis due to distant metastasis, even in the early stage. Using RNA sequencing and multiplex immunofluorescence, here we find elevated expression of mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudo-kinase (MLKL) and enhanced necroptosis pathway in PDAC from early liver metastasis T-stage (T1M1) patients comparing with non-metastatic (T1M0) patients. Mechanistically, MLKL-driven necroptosis recruits macrophages, enhances the tumor CD47 'don't eat me' signal, and induces macrophage extracellular traps (MET) formation for CXCL8 activation. CXCL8 further initiates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and upregulates ICAM-1 expression to promote endothelial adhesion. METs also degrades extracellular matrix, that eventually supports PDAC liver metastasis. Meanwhile, targeting necroptosis and CD47 reduces liver metastasis in vivo. Our study thus reveals that necroptosis facilitates PDAC metastasis by evading immune surveillance, and also suggest that CD47 blockade, combined with MLKL inhibitor GW806742X, may be a promising neoadjuvant immunotherapy for overcoming the T1M1 dilemma and reviving the opportunity for radical surgery.

Therapeutic effects of Lingguizhugan decoction in a rat model of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: Lingguizhugan (LGZG) decoction is a widely used classic Chinese medicine formula that was recently shown to improve high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR) in animal studies. AIM: To assess the therapeutic effect of LGZG decoction on HFD-induced IR and explore the potential underlying mechanism. METHODS: To establish an IR rat model, a 12-wk HFD was administered, followed by a 4-wk treatment with LGZG. The determination of IR status was achieved through the use of biochemical tests and oral glucose tolerance tests. Using a targeted meta-bolomics platform to analyze changes in serum metabolites, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess the gene expression of the ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta 1 (S6K1). RESULTS: In IR rats, LGZG decreased body weight and indices of hepatic steatosis. It effectively controlled blood glucose and food intake while protecting islet cells. Metabolite analysis revealed significant differences between the HFD and HFD-LGZG groups. LGZG intervention reduced branched-chain amino acid levels. Levels of IR-related metabolites such as tryptophan, alanine, taurine, and asparagine decreased significantly. IR may be linked to amino acids due to the contemporaneous increase in S6K1 expression, as shown by qRT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study strongly suggests that LGZG decoction reduces HFD-induced IR. LGZG may activate S6K1 via metabolic pathways. These findings lay the groundwork for the potential of LGZG as an IR treatment.

Cost-Effectiveness of Low-Dose Computed Tomography Screenings for Lung Cancer in High-Risk Populations: A Markov Model.

Background: Domestic and foreign studies on lung cancer have been oriented to the medical efficacy of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), but there is a lack of studies on the costs, value and cost-effectiveness of the treatment. There is a scarcity of conclusive evidence regarding the cost-effectiveness of LDCT within the specific context of Taiwan. This study is designed to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the cost-effectiveness of LDCT and chest X-ray (CXR) as screening methods for lung cancer. Methods: Markov decision model simulation was used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of biennial screening with LDCT and CXR based on a health provider perspective. Inputs are based on probabilities, health status utility (quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)), costs of lung cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment from the literatures, and expert opinion. A total of 1,000 simulations and five cycles of Markov bootstrapping simulations were performed to compare the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of these two screening strategies. Probability and one-way sensitivity analyses were also performed. Results: The ICUR of early lung cancer screening compared LDCT to CXR is $-24,757.65/QALYs, and 100% of the probability agree to adopt it under a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of the Taiwan gross domestic product (GDP) per capita ($35,513). The one-way sensitivity analysis also showed that ICUR depends heavily on recall rate. Based on the prevalence rate of 39.7 lung cancer cases per 100,000 people in 2020, it could be estimated that LDCT screening for high-risk populations could save $17,154,115. Conclusion: LDCT can detect more early lung cancers, reduce mortality and is cost-saving than CXR in a long-term simulation of Taiwan's healthcare system. This study provides valuable insights for healthcare decision-makers and suggests analyzing cost-effectiveness for additional variables in future research.

Immunobiology of COVID-19: Mechanistic and therapeutic insights from animal models.

The distribution of the immune system throughout the body complicates in vitro assessments of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immunobiology, often resulting in a lack of reproducibility when extrapolated to the whole organism. Consequently, developing animal models is imperative for a comprehensive understanding of the pathology and immunology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This review summarizes current progress related to COVID-19 animal models, including non-human primates (NHPs), mice, and hamsters, with a focus on their roles in exploring the mechanisms of immunopathology, immune protection, and long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as their application in immunoprevention and immunotherapy of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Differences among these animal models and their specific applications are also highlighted, as no single model can fully encapsulate all aspects of COVID-19. To effectively address the challenges posed by COVID-19, it is essential to select appropriate animal models that can accurately replicate both fatal and non-fatal infections with varying courses and severities. Optimizing animal model libraries and associated research tools is key to resolving the global COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a robust resource for future emerging infectious diseases.